Air Pollution is making us Sick

Air Pollution is making us Sick

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As doctors we believe it’s unconscionable that the air we breathe contributes to the preventable deaths of more than 3000 Australians each year, and thousands more people suffer from illnesses such as asthma, heart and lung disease and cancer. Children, pregnant women, those with chronic conditions and outdoor workers are especially vulnerable.

Australia’s air quality standards are more than two decades old and are behind places such as Europe, the US and China. Fortunately, the outdated air quality standards are up for review and we have a rare opportunity to adopt international best practice. 

The National Environment Protection ...

As doctors we believe it’s unconscionable that the air we breathe contributes to the preventable deaths of more than 3000 Australians each year, and thousands more people suffer from illnesses such as asthma, heart and lung disease and cancer. Children, pregnant women, those with chronic conditions and outdoor workers are especially vulnerable.

Australia’s air quality standards are more than two decades old and are behind places such as Europe, the US and China. Fortunately, the outdated air quality standards are up for review and we have a rare opportunity to adopt international best practice. 

The National Environment Protection Measures or NEPM are currently being reviewed for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone - nasty pollutants that come largely from motor vehicles exhaust, industry and coal-fired power stations. Bushfires can also increase ozone levels. 

The decision on the new standards falls to the responsiblity of the environment ministers from all states and territories who will be meet in December to vote on what the new standards should be.

Support our prescription for clean air

Three major changes would help improve the health of Australians:

Australia should implement the world’s best annual standard for nitrogen dioxide of 9 parts per billion (ppb). Research in Australian schools has shown that nitrogen dioxide above this level worsens asthma in children. It can also affect their lung and brain development. Our current annual nitrogen dioxide standard is set at the upper limit of 30 ppb. 


We need to adopt the World Health Organizations’ 1-day sulphur dioxide standard of 8 ppb. Our current 1-day sulphur dioxide standard of 80 ppb is 10 times higher than the recommended WHO standard. 


We need to include roadside monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in specific locations in each city where pollution levels are high. Current measurements are away from "hotspots" of pollution and therefore do not measure real time levels. 

 Solutions to reduce air pollution already exist- what’s missing is political will

Strong air pollution standards will save lives and improve health, as well as reduce the pressure on GP practices and emergency departments.

We have the technology for low and zero pollution options and there is no excuse to delay their use.

 Will you stand with us and call for our environment ministers to clean up the dirty air that’s making us sick? 

 Together we can make breathing easier for all Australians.

Click here to read our Expert Position Statement  and see the list of individual ministers involved.

 

 

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Let's tell our environment ministers and key decision makers both federal and state, that we want the best standards and demand clean air to protect the health of Australians.

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Including why this issue is personally important to you strengthens the message. This could be because you are a concerned parent or a health professional with affected patients.

Here are some other points should you wish to include them:

Australian standards for SO2, NO2, and O3 currently exceed the World Health Organisation’s recommended thresholds. Much stricter standards have been adopted in most other countries, including the US, EU, and China.

The annual health cost of air pollution to the community has been estimated at $11-$24 billion.

There is no safe threshold for exposure to air pollution. Health impacts have been studied and reported at concentrations well below the current and proposed NEPM standards. Strong health-based standards are required now to minimise ongoing damage to the health of Australians.

Schools and childcare centres on busy roads might be exposing our children, those most vulnerable, to high levels of air pollution.

The objective of the NEPM is to “minimise the risk of adverse health impacts from exposure to air pollution for all people, wherever they may live”. This would mean adopting monitoring and reporting standards that minimise the air pollution health burden in places like the Latrobe Valley and Hunter Valley. Currently, people in these communities are excluded from protection under the NEPM – a clear-cut example of environmental injustice.

All Australians are entitled to equivalent protection under the NEPM.

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